40 Under Forty: Edward Murphy

At The Edge At Union Station in Worcester are 40 Under Forty winners Jim Notaro, David Viens, Edward Murphy and Alexis G. Vallejos.

Murphy's interest in business first came working after school for his father's fire truck repair firm. Murphy obtained his real estate license at 19, and then acquired weRENTboston in 2005. He started weRENTcentralmass in 2008 – becoming the market leader in rentals – and then acquired the city's largest apartment rental agency, Guardian Select. Murphy then launched 7 Hill Property Management to provide services beyond leasing. In 2012 co-funded Stage One Investors to buy delinquent real estate tax and convert it into revenue for municipalities. That same year, he founded Baystate Investment Fund to buy and redevelop real estate.

If you spoke at a college graduation, what would the message be? I have failed miserably, so many times. Once you understand you can't move forward looking in the rear-view mirror, be prepared for your greatest successes.

Why work in Central Mass.? Boston real estate is for institutional investors. Central Mass. provides an opportunity for me in a growing market.